Favorite Tunes #232: The Slugfest

If you get the subtitle for this one, give yourself a cookie. A peanut butter cookie. Because those are the best flavor of cookies.

Desert Mountain Storm (BGM 1) - Gun Frontier (ARC)

I happened across this game's music while looking for some music from King of Fighters '98 to post. Any game that has music by Taito (ZUNTATA) is going to catch my attention. And man, it is ever so good! Gun Frontier or Gun & Frontier as it is known in the west, received a SEGA Saturn port, at least in Japan. The game was also part of the Taito Legends 2 collection on the PS2, 360 and PC.

Konami Avenue - Over Drive (ARC)

Insert the obvious Konami sucks comment here. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, we can talk about this arcade game. Actually, we can't because I've never played it and the game's existence didn't reach my notice until recently. This is another one I happened across while preparing Favorite Tunes. As of this writing, I haven't listened to the entire soundtrack, but this track by itself has left a very strong impression.

Rumbling on the City (Ikari Team) - King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends (ARC, NG)

Among the many (and I mean many) King of Fighters games, '98 is widely regarded as one of, if not the best entry. The fight roster (consisting of 30+ characters) was huge and the game was well balanced. You can get this classic for chump change via Arcade Archives on the PS4 and Switch. Those digitized guitar riffs are immaculate.

Beyond the Galaxy - Galaxy Force II (GEN)

Sure, Galaxy Force II didn't fare well on the Genesis but the one thing that did not get botched is the music. Those strong bass lines sounds arguably better on this home port than they do the co-op version. Also, that cowbell!

Stage 1 (Moonlight Temptation) - Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (NS, PS4, XBO, PSV, PC)

Knock back, stiff jumping, the Belmont strut. Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a Castlevania game in everything but the name. Seeing as how Konami isn't doing jack with the franchise these days, I have no problem with Bloodstained being the new Castlevania. Even the soundtrack was done by Michiru Yamane, a name known far and wide to Castlevania fans.

Marina Stadium - Mario Tennis Aces (NS)

From the buzz, Mario Tennis Aces has put the Mario Tennis games back on the map after a few lackluster entries. I haven't really gotten seriously involved with a Mario Tennis game since the N64 original so I'm really stoked for this one (haven't picked it up yet.) It would be a Mario Tennis game without blasting Motoi Sakuraba music. The man really has flair for making Tennis music sound epic.

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Favorite Tunes #229: Not Casltevania

Being ahead of schedule feels really good. Why do I say that. Well, not only is it true, but by the time you read this, I'll have typed all this in weeks ago. Enjoy the music.

Stage 2 (Frigid Hell) - Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (PS4, PSV, NS, 3DS, XBO, PC)

If you miss Castlevania or more specifically, old school Castlevania then Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon will be right up your alley. It looks and feels like an 8-bit Castlevania. Curse of the Moon even has Medusa head stand-in enemies that appear at the worst of times. Being a game modeled after Caslevania, the music is excellent.

Set Up (USA) - Phantasy Star II (GEN)

Often herald as one of the greatest RPGs on the Genesis. It might be the best if not for Phantasy Star IV. Well, that's what most people that play it say, anyway. I haven't played either all the way through so maybe my opinions will differ.

A Submerging Titan - Super R-Type (SNES)

True story: I actually beat Super R-Type. Not the most difficult game ever, Super R-Type manages to make a series that is already know for being hard even more so by eliminating checkpoints from R-Type II, of which Super R-Type is a port of. The music quality is a step above the arcade version and few of the levels are brand new.

Vital Mission - Metal Warriors (SNES)

Metal Warriors is one of those SNES games I've heard of but never played.  I think I saw it at Blockbuster years ago but I never felt compelled to try it out even with that sweet looking mech on the cover. This tune just happened to pop up on the side bar on YouTube so I gave it a listen. Needless to say, I was not disappointed with what I heard.

Infinite - Sonic Forces (PS4, NS, XBO, PC)

I'm not gonna call Sonic Forces a great game but it isn't a horrible abomination that many would like you to believe, nor doesn't throw Sonic back to "the dark years." The music, while different from what most may be used to with a lot of synth, is really good. Regardless of how Infinite turned out as a villain, his theme song is a real banger.

Format X - Contra Hard Corps

Are you looking for a Contra game to really kick you in the junk and show you no mercy? Contra Hard Corps is your game. The game is even hard outside of Japan thanks to the removal of a life meter and your continues are very limited.

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